Coeligena consita
The Perijá Starfrontlet, *Coeligena consita*, is a truly exquisite medium-sized hummingbird endemic to the high-altitude cloud forests of the Perijá Mountains. Measuring around 14 cm in length and weighing a mere 8.3-8.6 grams, this iridescent gem is characterized by a striking purplish-blue frontal patch on its shining green crown, a contrasting blackish face, and a brilliant emerald-green gorget. Its back is glittering dark green, while its belly displays a distinctive rufous-chestnut. The ...
This specialized hummingbird inhabits humid montane forest edges, stunted elfin forest, and sub-páramo zones. It is typically found at high elevations, primarily between 1800 and 3200 meters.
Its diet consists mainly of nectar from a variety of flowering plants, including Ericaceae and Gesneriaceae. Small arthropods, hawked in flight, provide essential protein.
The Perijá Starfrontlet is a diurnal and primarily solitary bird, exhibiting classic hummingbird territoriality. It frequently engages in "trap-lining," a foraging strategy where it systematically visits a circuit of favored flowering plants for nectar. When not feeding on nectar, it expertly haw...
The Perijá Starfrontlet boasts an incredibly restricted and fragmented geographic distribution, being entirely endemic to the isolated Perijá Mountains. This mountain range straddles the border between northeastern Colombia, specifically the departments of Cesar and La Guajira, and northwestern V...
Critically Endangered
- The Perijá Starfrontlet is endemic to the small, isolated Perijá Mountains, making it one of the most range-restricted birds in the world. - It was once considered a subspecies of the Golden-bellied Starfrontlet (*Coeligena bonapartei*) before being recognized as its own distinct species. - Des...